Handle for luggage and the like



Dec. 29, 1959 J, ov o 2,918,998

7 HANDLE FOR LUGGAGE AND THE LIKE I Filed July 15, 1958 INVENTOR. J'OHN NOVEL O MfWM ATTORNEY United States Patent HANDLE FOR LUGGAGE AND THE LIKE John Novelo, Queens, N. assignor to'Waljohn Plastics, -Inc., Brooklyn, NX.

Application July 15, 1958, Serial No. 748,744

3 Claims. (Cl. 190-57) This'inventio'n relates to a handle for luggage'and the like, and more particularly to a reinforced handle whose main member is of unitary'construction and includes an upper and a lower portion integrally formed witheach other.

Heretofore handles "for luggage and the like could not be properly manufactured with the main member thereof formed of a single unitary member, since it is desirable to undercut one of the portions, which groove rendered it impossible to "properly withdraw the handle from the mold. However, whenthe unitary member is provided with suitable recesses in the'ends thereof about which rings seat, and when the member is molded of'a'resilient flexible synthetic plastic material utilizing techniques recently invented by applicant to be'described ina copending application for patent, it is now possible to mold the main member comprising upper andlower portions integrally formed with each other.

Various types of luggage handles have heretofore been constructed using upper and lower portions which are later attached to each other or right and left'side members, which likewise are subsequently 'attached'to each other. Because thefastening means used to secure the members or portions together will either prove to be less strong than the members themselves or'will reduce the strength of the members by cutting away'the members, and oftentimes pull out'of the members, the prior art luggage handles usually "have ashorter life than that of the main portion of the luggage itself, often requiring repair of the handles so that the luggage can continue to be used. 1

Further, the handles .usually break when subjected to load, rendering it extremely .inconvenientfor the. traveller tocarry the luggage.

.It is therefore .an .important .object of the present invention to. provide ,a luggage handle which is exceedingly strong in construction, capable of being used on various types of luggage, which is designed to simulate leather, which may be manufactured in any desired color, and which is attractive in appearance.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a luggage handle formed from a single unitary member with the upper portion thereof undercut so that when the bar retained within the main member is flexible, under load, it can seat in the undercut without adversely affecting the strength of the luggage handle due to fiexure of the bar, which would otherwise cause separation of the stitches or other means fastening the portions of the main body together.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a luggage handle having ends which are integrally formed with the upper and lower portions of the handle so that the rings used for attaching the luggage handle to the luggage will not, due to stress on the fastening means used to securing separate ends together, cause the luggage handle to break and the main body to become separate from the rings.

A further object of the invention resides in the pro vision of a-luggage handle which employs stitches'to hold the upper portion to the lower portion thereof and'which is-so'arranged that substantially no stress whatsoever will be applied on the stitches during the use of the handle, even though the stitches serve to retain theflexure bar within the confines of the member.

Still further objects and features of the present invention reside in the provision of a handle for'luggage and the like that is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, thereby permitting wide use and distribution to the trade.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this handle for luggage, preferred embodiment of-which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing by way of example only, wherein:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of the handle constructed'in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2'is a side elevational view of the handle witha portion thereof being shown in section for the sake of clarity; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the handle as taken along the plane of line 33 in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is-an enlarged partial plan view illustrating one of the'ends of the handle; and

'Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a ring and associated clip utilized in conjunction with the handle for attachment to the luggage.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the reference'numeral '10 generally designates the handle comprising the present invention, which includes unitary body 12 having an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16 integrally connected with each otherat the ends 18 and Zil'thereof. I

The lower portion 16 is relatively flat and rectangular in shape while the upper portion is undercut as at=-22 forming a longitudinal concave groove 24 defining a sub stantially semi-cylindrical space -26 between the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16.

Further, the upper portion 14 includes a central portion 26' which is arch-like in configuration and upwardly convex as at 28, together with the outer side portions30 and 32.

Disposed within the member 12 is an elongated flexure bar 34,,formed of, metal, such as iron or the like,-aud

which has: loops 3 6 and;38 formed at the ends thereof by 54, and rings 56.

The ends 18 and 20 are provided with pairs of recesses 58 and 60, respectively, which recesses form pairs of shoulders 62, 64, and 66, 68, which serve to limit the amount of pivotal action that the rings 48 can undergo.

Stitches arranged in lines as at 70 and 72 serve to hold the outer portions 30 and 32 tight against the lower portion 16, thus retaining the flexure bar 34 in place. It is noted that the central portion 26' is relatively thin so as to permit fiexure thereof yet, because of its archlike construction, strongly undercuts the upper portions 30 and 32.

In use, when the handle is grasped, the rings 48 will be drawn closer together thus flexing the bar 34 convexly upwardly to even a greater extent than the main ,body is flexed; However, because of the undercub 22 and the space 26, the bar 34 can flex withouttplacingan unwanted stress on the top portion 14, thus producing substantially no stress on the stitches 70 and- 72-and assuring an extended life for the luggage. I 1

The amount that the rings 48 can pivot is determined by the position of the rings with respect to the shoulders .and it is noted that the rings 48 will notcause any undue wear on the ends 18 and 20 due to the fact that the rings engage the loops 36 and 38 primarily, which rings are formed of metal. 1

Thus, it can be seen that there has been provided a handle comprising a unitary member 12 including an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16 integrally formed and connected to each other at the ends 18 and 20 thereof, the ends 18 and 20 being of reduced cross-sec- ;tional area forming recesses 58 and 60 in the member 12.

tion 16 holding the bar 34 within the member 12 be- 1' tween the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16 I with the bar extending into the recess 24 upon upwardly convex flexing of the member 12, the groove 24 dividing the upper portion 14 into a relatively thin central portion 26 and relatively thick outer portion 30 and 32 with the stiches 70 and 72 extending through the outer portions. 7

Various changes and modifications may be made with out departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A handle for luggage comprising'a member including an upper portion and a lower portion integrally formed and connected to each other at the ends thereof, the ends of said lower portion being of reduced cross sectional area forming recesses in said member, a groove formed in the lower surface'of said upper portion, a bar having loops at the ends thereof disposed between said upper portion and said lower portion, rings fitted in said loops and pivotally seated in said recesses, and stitches extending through said upper portion and said lower portion holding said bar within said member between said upper portion and said lower portion with said bar extending into said groove upon upwardly convex flexing of said member, said groove extending longitudinally of said upper portion and centrally thereof dividing said upper portion into a relatively thin central portion and relatively thick outer portions, said stitches extending through said outer portions on opposite sides of said bar holding said outer portions against said lower portion. 1

2. A luggage handle comprising a unitary member in cluding an upper portion'and a lower portion integrally formed and connected to each other at the ends thereof, the ends of said lower portion being of reduced cross sectional area forming recesses in said member, a groove formed in the lower surface of said upper portion, a flexure bar having loops at the ends thereof disposed between said upper portion and said lower portion, rings fitted in said loops and pivotally seated in said recesses, and stitches extending through said upper portion and said lower portion spaced from said ends, said stitches being disposed on opposite sides of said bar and holding said bar within s'aidamember between said upper portion and said lower portion with said bar extending into said groove upon upwardly convex flexing of said member.

3. A luggage handle comprising a member including an upper portion and a lower portion integrally formed vwith each other and connected at the'ends thereof, the ends of said lower portion being of reduced cross sectional area forming recesses in said member defining pairs of stop shoulders, a groove formed in the lower surface of .said upper portion, a flexible resilient bar having loops at the ends thereof disposed between said upper portion and said lower portion, rings fitted in said loopsand pivotally seated in said recesses engaging said stop shoulders to limit the pivoting of said rings, and stitches extending through'said upper portion and vsaid lowerv portion spaced from said ends holding said bar within said member between said upper portion and said lower portion with saidbarextending into said groove upon upwardly convex flexing of said member, said. groove extending longitudinally of said upper portion and centrally thereof dividing said upper portion into a relatively thin central portion and relatively thick outer portions, said stitches extending through said outer portions and on opposite sides of said bar. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 622,324 Brown Apr. 4,-1899 1,909,392 Chesnut May 16, 1933 2,106,911 Garfinkel Feb. 1, 1938 2,654,115 Kafer Oct. 6, 1953 Finkelstein L. Feb. 19, 1957 

